BANGOR THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Bangor Theological Seminary
Bangor

ET 1705: Sexuality and the Social Order
Fall 2000

Mondays, 1:00 -- 4:00 p.m.
Instructor: Marvin M. Ellison
Portland office: (207) 774-5212
Bangor office: (800) 287-6781
E-mail address: Mellison@bts.edu
Office hours: By appointment

Course goals:

To deepen awareness of personal, social, cultural, and religious dimensions of sexuality, especially as these affect selfhood and community;

To explore the meaning and demands of sexual justice for church and society;

To critically appropriate insights from various sources, including scripture, tradition, social and natural sciences, and the Christian feminist and gay liberation movements; and

To frame a constructive Christian sexual ethic for the new century.

Grading system: Pass/D/Fail. To receive a letter grade, please notify the instructor in writing no later than October 23.

Credits: 3 semester hours

Course requirements:

Constructive class participation (30%):

Consistent attendance, timely completion of assigned readings, and conscientious effort to relate the material to your own experience, to the cultural crisis of sexuality, and to congregational life and ministry. (20%)
Participation in a reading group and in-class presentation on a common reading. (10%)

Writing assignments (70%):

A weekly insight-and-question (typed, double-spaced, no more than 2-3 sentences) in response to the week’s assigned reading. When citing a text, include author and page number(s). (15%)
Three brief (2-3 page) reflection papers (typed, double-spaced) due periodically during the course. (15%)
A book review (3-5 pages, typed and doubled-spaced) in which you first explicate the material from the author’s point of view and then discuss the strengths and/or weaknesses of the author’s (or authors’) contribution toward a contemporary sexual ethic. Due October 23. (20%)

Select one of the following texts to review:

Kelly Douglas Brown, Sexuality and the Black Church (Orbis, 1999).

Nancy L. Eiesland, The Disabled God (Abingdon, 1994)

Sylvia Thorson Smith, Pornography: Far From the Song of Songs (PCUSA, 1988)

Walter Wink, (ed.), Homosexuality and Christian Faith (Fortress, 1999)

In 4-6 pages, develop your own proposal for a contemporary Christian sexual ethic. What are the key assumptions and values you hold? What issues and concerns are central to your ethic, and why? Identify how literature in this course informs your emerging perspective. Due December 18. (20%)

Written work will be evaluated in terms of:

Overall clarity of your thinking and expression.

Your critical engagement with texts, including demonstration of your understanding the author’s points and ability to evaluate them fairly.

Your ability to state and give an accounting for your own position.

Late work will be penalized.

Course schedule and assignments:

#1. September 11: Introduction to course and colleagues

"Getting Started" exercise
Definitions
Ground rules

#2. September 18: Rethinking sexuality

Due today: Brief writing assignment #1

In 2-3 pages (typed, double-spaced), write about something you’ve been discovering over the last few years about yourself as a sexual person. For example, what things do you now realize about yourself that you wish someone had told you 5, 10, 20, or more years ago?

James B. Nelson, Body Theology (WJK, 1992), Ch. 1 (“Sexuality and Spirituality: Agenda for a Continuing Revolution”) and Ch. 2 (“Where Are We? Seven Sinful Problems and Seven Virtuous Possibilities”), pp. 15-40.

Marvin M. Ellison, Erotic Justice: A Liberating Ethic of Sexuality (Westminster John Knox, 1996), Introduction and Ch. 1, pp. 1-29.

Anne Bathurst Gilson, Eros Breaking Free: Interpreting Sexual Theo-Ethics (Pilgrim, 1995), Ch. 2 ("The Church on Eros: Contemporary Denominational Policies on Sexuality") and Ch. 3 ("Re-membering Eros: Feminist Liberation Theo-Ethical Voices"), pp. 37-84.

Sylvia Thorson Smith, "Talking About Sexuality," in Congregations Talking about Homosexuality: Dialogue on a Difficult Issue, ed. Beth Ann Gaede (Alban, 1998), pp. 3-11.

#3. September 25: Reframing Christian Sexual Ethics

Reading: Marie M. Fortune, Love Does No Harm: Sexual Ethics for the Rest Of Us (Continuum, 1995).

Handout: SIECUS "Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing"

#4. October 2: Dimensions of Sexuality: Embodiment

Reading: Sexuality: A Reader, ed. Karen Lebacqz with David Sinacore-Guinn (Pilgrim, 1999), Introduction and Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12.

In-class fishbowls: Growing up male and female

October 9: Reading Week (no class)

#5. October 16: Dimensions of Sexuality: Relationality and Sexual Violence

Reading: Lebacqz, Sexuality: A Reader, Ch. 8, 9, 15, 16, and 17.

Ellison, Erotic Justice, Ch. 5 ("Securing the Sanctity of Every Body: Men Confronting Men’s Violence"), pp. 94-113.

#6. October 23: Educational resources for pastors and congregations

Due today: Book reviews

Reading: Debra W. Haffner, A Time to Speak: Faith Communities and Sexuality Education (SIECUS, 1998).

Wilson Yates, "Human Sexuality: Dualistic and Holistic Paradigms," in Sylvia Thorson Smith, Pornography: Far From the Song of Songs, Appendix 5, pp. 107-119.

Discussion: Reading groups meet to discuss their books.

#7. October 30: Paradigm Shift in the Social Sciences

Reading: United Church of Christ, Human Sexuality: A Preliminary Study, 106-41.

Karen Lebacqz, "Difference or Defect: Intersexuality and the Politics of Difference," Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics, Vol. 17 1997, pp. 213-229.

#8. November 6: Dimensions of Sexuality: The Social Construction of Sexuality

Reading: Lebacqz, Sexuality: A Reader, Ch. 13, 19, and 20.

Ellison, Erotic Justice, Ch. 2 ("Facing the Moral Problem"), pp. 30-58.

Mary E. Hobgood, "Marriage, Market Values, and Social Justice: Toward an Examination of Compulsory Monogamy," in Redefining Sexual Ethics, ed. Susan Davies and Eleanor Haney, 115-26.

#9. November 13: Resources for Ethical Guidance: Bible and Tradition

Due today: Brief writing assignment #2

In 2-3 pages (typed, doubled-spaced), identify one or more biblical texts that have had a negative impact on your (or others’) understanding of sexuality and sexual ethics. How might these texts be disarmed? Or go the other way and identify one or more biblical texts (or themes) that function positively, and explain the significance of those texts for how you and others understand sexuality and spirituality.

Reading: Lebacqz, Sexuality: A Reader, Ch. 22, 23, 24, 27, and 28.

Ellison, Erotic Justice, Ch. 3 ("Locating Resources for a Liberating Ethic"), pp. 59-75.

Peter Gomes, The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart (New York: William Morrow and Company, 1996), Ch. 8, "The Bible and Homosexuality: The Last Prejudice," pp. 144-172.

November 20: Thanksgiving Recess (no class)

#10. November 27: Resources for Ethical Guidance: Reason and Experience

Reading: Lebacqz, Sexuality: A Reader, Ch. 30, 31, and 32.

Resource persons: Jean Vermette and PJ Mears

#11. December 4: Contemporary Ethical Proposals

Reading: Lebacqz, Sexuality: A Reader, Ch. 33, 34, and 36.

Ellison, Erotic Justice, Ch. 4 ("Reimagining Good Sex") and Conclusion ("Reveling in an Erotic Spirituality of Justice"), pp. 76-93, 114-122.

Due today: Brief writing assignment #3

In 2-3 pages (typed, double-spaced), discuss one of the three scenarios described on the handout "Rethinking Sexual Ethics: First Thoughts, Second Thoughts." In answering the questions, be sure to provide reasons. As you draw on insights from the readings, include specific citations (author, page number).

#12. December 11: Reports from the Reading Groups

Sexuality and Race/Racism: Douglas, Sexuality and the Black Church

Sexuality and Disability: Eiesland, The Disabled God

#13. December 18: Reports from the Reading Groups

Due today: Constructive proposals for a contemporary Christian sexual ethic

Sexuality and Pornography: Thorson-Smith, Pornography: Far From the Song of Songs

Sexuality and Difference: Wink, Homosexuality and Christian Faith

Course evaluation.

Note: If you wish to have your final written work mailed to you, please submit a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with your paper.